Selling a tractor online, advice needed

JBMac76 · Jan 4, 2011

I've got my latest MF 175 for sale on a major online site I've had good luck with. Had a couple of tire kickers, no luck yet. Guy calls me from an area code 3 hours away. Asks all the right questions (he had good working knowledge of Massey Ferguson tractors). Says he wanted to buy it to export it. This didn't surprise me, as my last 175 is working hard in sunny Mexico. Asked me if I would deliver it to Miami, 6 hours away, for $400. I declined. He said he would send me a check for our agreed upon amount. Once it was cashed (no way I would run it through my bank) a trucking company would pick it up. I know the old saying, but it seems too good to be true. What am I missing? If I have green cash in hand, how could I go wrong?

Vito · Jan 4, 2011

Hecould be legit.I have bought sight unseen before.As usual use caution.

Vito

IaGary · Jan 4, 2011

Why not run it thru your bank?

Even if you cash it and it doesn't clear they will come back to you to get the cash back won't they?

I bought a tractor 12 hours away. Mailed a check and had it picked up about a month later.

As long as the check clears your in the clear aren't you?

If doesn't clear you still have the tractor.

Gary

LAA · Jan 4, 2011

If you ask for a US postal service money order those can be verified at local post office.

aFORDable · Jan 4, 2011

Even with cash in hand you will be responsible to the bank you cashed it in if the check isn't good. I'd give it time to clear before delivery.

VicS · Jan 4, 2011

Why wouldn't you just deposit his check? what do you have to lose?

JBMac76 · Jan 4, 2011

My fear with my bank was that I would deposit the check, funds become available 2 days later, I ship the tractor. A week later bank says check was fruadulent, takes the money back out, now my tractor is gone. Just paranoid with all the scams out there.

KCTractors · Jan 4, 2011

Just have him transfer the money from his bank to your bank. Will not be any problems.

davediehl@hotmail.com · Jan 4, 2011

3 hours away is nothing for someone to take a day and drive to hand deliver you payment. A tractor is a pretty substantial purchase and should draw the buyer to actually see what he is paying for being only 3 hours away. Though I ALWAYS pay cash for my tractor purchases, I understand that not all are willing to travel with large amounts of cash and do as I do. A postal money order is suggested, but if that is not possible, then take your check for the exact amount you are selling for. Take it to your bank and don't release the item for at least 30 days until it fully clears. I have found by operating a retail store, most (if not all) banks take a full 30 days before some checks are returned. Some are even 45 days before being charged back with NSF fees added on. Once you release your tractor, and you have accepted a method of payment, recovering your item or cash is extremely difficult and maybe impossible. I don't know anyone who would refuse to bring cash when requested if the item is indeed what they desire. With todays economy, use your instinct as well as your head. I say cash on the bank counter and write the bill of sale in the bank lobby.

MSD · Jan 4, 2011

I live in SD. This fall I bought a crawler from a guy in CA. from home. Also one from a guy in MI. Same way. Asked what I thought were good questions to see if they were legit and when I felt comfortable, I sent him the money. Both were willing to take personal checks. The check had the banks phone number on it and they can call to find out if the money is in the account. Both crawlers were as described and all parties were happy with the deal. It would have been impossible for me to go there and look them over before buying.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jan 4, 2011

Cash the check at the bank it was written on. Running it through your bank exposes you to the chance of it bouncing and you being charged fees. If you go to the bank it is written on, you will get cash if it is good. If the money isn't in the account, the bank will hand the check back and that's it. If the bank gives you cash even though the account doesn't have the money in it, that's their problem for not being able to add, read, keep records, etc.

JBMac76 · Jan 4, 2011

That's what I was thinking, Brian. If I take it to his bank, they wont cash it unless it's good. I think this route or the Post office money order is my safest bet.

ARCADIAINC · Jan 4, 2011

As the man said. Have his bank transfer the funds to your bank. If both banks are happy everyone wins.

Ray · Jan 4, 2011

I sold a tractor to a guy in honduras last summer.They were here for 3 hours buying it,about wore me out.One would speak english while the other would jabber on to him in spanish i quess while he talked to me.They bought the tractor then said they were 100 bucks short in cash.They kept saying" It's only 100 dollars".I finally had enough and told them to get out.They then came up with the extra hundred.

Pete76NY · Jan 5, 2011

More than likely you'll get a check for the cost of the tractor and shipping/trucking...they will ask you to cash it and pay the trucking company too...it's a scam.

Mike Van · Jan 5, 2011

A postal money order can be verified on the spot in any post office, then you take it to your bank. If it's a fraud, the postal service should go after the sender of it. If he won't do that, then tell him to take a hike.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 5, 2011

Go with your gut. People in KS and MO must be a little more trusting than most of the folks on here (we bought 4 horses with emails and paypal and live more than a couple hours away). You'll note that some of the same ones telling you not to trust someone slip over into other posts and boast about how much they know about the big guy and offer their translation of what they think he'da said. They swing over here and forget about the friendship, brotherly love, and trust.

Hard to go wrong with a postal money order though and they are cheaper than checks.

Good Luck,

Dave

Nebraska Cowman · Jan 5, 2011

No No, you wait at least 10 days

Greenday · Jan 5, 2011

You cant always trust postal money orders either. A couple of years ago they were conterfitting these also. The safest bet is to have the money wired to you for example Money Gram etc...

C.R. · Jan 5, 2011

cant go wrong with cash american!checks and moneyorders can be faked write down any licence plate numbers if they shhow up be carefull

Mike Van · Jan 6, 2011

when a person buy a postal m.o., the bar code on it is scanned into the system. Any p.o. can check to see if the one you have is legit. If the one you have is faked, they will know.

Selling a tractor online, advice needed

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